Korakas beach (Rodakino)
The village Rodakino is located 45km southeast of Rethymno city, on the exit of the steep canyon Rodakino that runs across the mountain Kryoneritis, a few kilometers west of Plakias resort and east of Fragokastelo. This traditional village is built on both sides of the gorge, which separates it into two different settlements, namely Kato and Ano Rodakino. The village overlooks the deep blue South Cretan Sea. According to the tradition, the village's name (means peach in Greek) is taken after a peach tree that grew here, despite the dry climate of the region. Others say that the gorge was called Rikinthos, that was later paraphrased to Rodakino.
At the exit of the torrent of the canyon, 2km south of the village, there are several beautiful and tranquil beaches. To visit them you should follow the road that leads to Korakas beach. Despite the fact that it has a long beachfront, Rodakino is not highly developed and still retains its traditional character and harmony. The first beach that you come across the exit of the dried river is Korakas (i.e. crow in Greek). It is a long beach with fine grayish pebbles and wonderfully clear waters, well organized with umbrellas, taverns and some rooms to rent. In its east end, there are cavernous rocks; locals say that before getting eroded by sea and salt they looked like a crow’s beak.
Surroundings
In Ano Rodakino you will see the old churches of the Assumption, Transfiguration and Saint Panteleimon. In Kato Rodakino you will see the old churches of St. George, Prophet Elijah and St. Anthony. You can follow the E4 trail to reach the peak of Kryoneritis Mount and then descend to Alones. The peak hosts the Church of the Holy Spirit, where big festival takes place every year. In the site of the chapel, there is a hole where a shepherd found an icon of the Holy Spirit. He was guided to get there by the light of the Holy Spirit. When he took the icon to his home, it disappeared and was found again in the same position. This legend gave rise to build a church here. Lastly, the first flag of the Revolution on 24.05.1821 was hoisted in the location Kourkoulos, by the abbot of the Preveli monastery, Melchizedek Tsouderos.
Korakas bay was used several times during the Cretan revolution of 1866, when Greek cruisers were unloading munitions that were later stored in the nearby cave Skotini. Moreover, Korakas was used by the legendary steamship "Arcadi”, on one of its last missions for transporting munitions, but it was forced to leave by the Ottomans.
